Newell, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 944, Newell's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Newell is a small community located in Iowa, within Buena Vista County. The total population is 944. It ranks as the 300th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Newell is 36.1 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 35.0% of the population under 18, Newell has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Newell is $66,667. This is 11% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.0%. This is 82% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $122,600. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Newell is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Newell is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 3.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

19.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Newell, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.